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Disturbing Interview in the NY Times

October 16, 2007 — Dr Esam Omeish

I denounce in the strongest terms the statements of the disturbed youth who gave the chilling interview in the New York Times supporting terrorism and mayhem against our country. This kind of speech has no place in our community and that young man stands completely alone in his statements and he does not reflect the views of the millions of peace loving Muslim Americans nor of Islam itself. We as Muslims, have spoken out and will continue to speak against those who are in support of terrorism and murder.

As President of MAS, I plan to lead efforts in the future to prevent Muslim youth from falling victim to such sick and demented views by providing them with positive outlets so that they can become productive citizens of our country. We will also do as much as we can to get hate sites such as his shut down.

What does it mean that you “denounce” a person? Wouldn’t it be more correct to “denounce” his views or his actions? Do you “denounce” George W. Bush? Do you denounce Hosni Mubarak?

May Allaah (swt) reward you and MAS for your clarifying what Islam stands for and believes in and for proposing more positive and constructive projects for our youth, but I think we have to be somewhat clear that the solution to our problems as an ummah and as a community here in America are not to gang up on and abuse people who seem to be “disturbed” and who are already hated and despised in this country. Such tactics will only lead such people or those sympathetic to their concerns to become more radicalized and detached from the Muslim community. Allaah knows best.

You are correct and I have adjusted my statement to reflect what I have meant.

I feel that we as a community must provide positive alternatives and at the same time point out the evils of extremism. The views of the people that this youth supports are very disturbing to say the least and very counterproductive to any positive work that we as Muslims do.

InshAllaah let us continue the work to provide positive alternatives….I think this is much more beneficial in most cases than condemning people, which as I’ve said usually only further alienates them from the community.